n.
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English kele, from Old Norse kj ỏ lr; akin to Old English ceole throat, beak of a ship ― more at GLUTTON
Date: 14th century
1 a : the chief structural member of a boat or ship that extends longitudinally along the center of its bottom and that often projects from the bottom also : this projection b : SHIP
2 : a projection suggesting a keel especially : CARINA 1
– keeled \ ' k ē ld \ adjective
– keel · less \ ' k ē l-l ə s \ adjective